Election 2022: Haddon Heights School Board Candidate Stacey Augustine

HADDON HEIGHTS, NJ — In the 2022 general election, residents of South Jersey will be voting for state and local officials. Patch has asked candidates in contested races to answer profiles about their campaigns.

Here is the candidate profile for Stacey Augustine, running for another term on the Haddon Heights Board of Education.

Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the office of the clerk. The responses received will be published between now and the Nov. 8 general election. Local candidates who would like to participate but did not receive one (for whatever reason) can contact Michelle.Rotuno-Johnson@patch.com.

Name: Stacey Augustine

Age: 39

Town of residence: Haddon Heights, NJ

Position sought: Board of Education Member

Family: My husband Chris and I have been married for 13 years. We have a son, AJ who is 11 years old and a daughter, Anna who is 8 years old. Both of our children attend the Haddon Heights School District.

Education: I graduated from Rutgers University in 2005 with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. I attended graduate school at Widener University and earned my Masters Degree in Social Work in 2007. Over the past year, I completed more graduate work at Wilmington University to earn my NJ Department of Education Supervisor Certificate.

Occupation: School social worker

What previous or current elected/appointed offices have you held?

I am currently on the board of education and was appointed in January of 2020. My three-year term expires in December 2022.

Why are you seeking to run for the school board?

The Haddon Heights School District has experienced various changes over the past few years. I am hoping to continue the progression the district has made by lending my experience as a professional, parent and resident. I am a firm believer in transparency and accountability.

I hope that my work on the school board over the three years has shown my commitment to the students, staff and community members of Haddon Heights.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

My professional experience and current service as a board member are what set me apart from other candidates. I recently earned my NJ Department of Education Supervisor Certificate, which has given me training in effective leadership and curriculum. I am entering my 16th year as a school social worker. As a school social worker, I have first hand experience working within the educational setting. My profession requires me to be proactive and forward-thinking and has led to insight on the importance of staff morale, collaboration, community involvement and effective implementation of new procedures within the school setting.

What is your stance on the sexual education curriculum that Gov. Murphy put forth earlier this year?

This is a controversial issue and understandably so. The topic of sexuality is sensitive and personal for many families. While traditionally these topics were “taught in the home”, our technological society gives children the ability to find information at younger and younger ages. It is important for children to receive an overview of sensitive topics that are age and developmentally appropriate. As a parent and educator, I value the importance of proper exposure, especially for those who may not have such discussions at home. When reviewing the standards on the NJ DOE website, the topics are general in nature and broken down by developmental levels (grade 2, 5, 8 and 12). However, it is imperative for the district to communicate to families regarding the extent these topics will be reviewed within the district. This will allow for parents and guardians to make an informed decision on what they are or are not comfortable with their children being exposed to. This communication to families, will also help those parents of children who choose to participate, have follow up discussions with their children.

What is the most important issue in your district and how do you intend to address it?

When I initially ran for office in 2020, my main areas of concern for the district included communication and transparency with the community and the lack of a full-day kindergarten program. I am pleased that many of these concerns have been improved upon and Heights had its first class of full-day kindergarten start in September. I would like to see the district continue to improve and build upon our quad-district curriculum (Haddon Heights, Barrington, Lawnside and Merchantville). This is an important aspect to closing the achievement gap. I would like to see the four districts collaborate and create curriculum at the younger grades as well to level the playing field for all our students.

What other issues do you feel must be tackled in your school district that have not been discussed already and how would you tackle these?

The mental health of our students has become increasingly more important over the years. As a social worker, I have seen an increased need for intervention.The aftermath of the pandemic has taken a toll on our students, families and staff. I am very proud of the initiatives the Haddon Heights School District has rolled out through the strategic plan over the past few years and will strongly advocate for the continuation of these programs.

What else would you like to share about yourself or your campaign?

I am asking for your vote on November 8, 2022. I am a firm believer in transparency and accountability. I would be happy to answer any other questions or engage in conversation regarding my candidacy. Please feel free to email me at augustine4hhboe@gmail.com